Seventh Biker Charged in West Side Chase and Attack

A 31-year-old Brooklyn man was charged Thursday with using his helmet to beat a Credit Suisse vice president after the victim was chased by motorcyclists through Manhattan.

James Kuehne is the seventh biker charged in the chase and attack. He was arraigned on charges of gang assault, assault and criminal mischief for allegedly striking Alexian Lien’s SUV, punching him through the window and then beating him while he was on the ground, in front of his wife and 2-year-old daughter.

Prosecutor Samantha Turino told a Manhattan Criminal Court judge that Mr. Kuehne is one of at least five people who allegedly can be seen on a video that has not been made public striking the driver “at least three times while he was on the ground” with his helmet. The attack continued until Mr. Lien lost consciousness, Ms. Turino said.

Mr. Kuehne posted bail moments after his arraignment and walked out of the courthouse into a waiting black sedan. He declined to speak to reporters.

Mr. Kuehne’s lawyer, Joseph Mure, disputed the prosecutor’s account of the events. He said that new evidence from before the video began will come out.

“He happens to be an individual that’s very upset and very distraught about this entire situation,” Mr. Mure said after the hearing. “I promise you as this case goes on we’re going to hear things that took place that day that are a lot different than what’s shown on the videos as of yet.

“We intend to fight these charges right now,” he said. “We intend to let all the evidence come forward. There’s plenty of witnesses that saw many things take place prior to those video cameras going on.”

Mr. Mure declined to elaborate on what evidence he was referring to.

The attorney said Mr. Kuehne is married with two young children and has worked as a plumber for 13 years. He added that Mr. Kuehne entered a plea of not guilty.